Candidates for SA CCAS Undergraduate Senator (6 positions)

William Block

Background:I’m Will Block – and I am an activist. I’m an activist who loves public policy, leadership and grassroots organizing. I also happen to love Indian food, classical piano, and coffee. Throughout my life, I have had the opportunity to participate in many political and issue organizing campaigns, and have always worked to improve my community. I hope to bring this work ethic to the Student Association Senate.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?Oftentimes, it seems like GW is a large real estate company, and not an academic institution. The university certainly must be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning process. Firstly, we need more transparency with housing and costs for other student services. The onus should be on the university to show that they are offering fair housing rates. I believe that increased transparency will drive housing rates down as the university realizes that its unethical to profit off of housing costs. Secondly, there needs to be much greater transparency with the university's assets and investments. I will call on the Chief Investment Officer to release full disclosures of the allocation of our endowment. Ultimately, I believe that greater student involvement in the financial planning process will result in a more equitable university. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?It is fundamental that the Student Association uphold its responsibility to the students of GW. To that end, every SA Senator should send out periodic updates to his or her constituents. Furthermore, Senate meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and audio/video recordings should all be available on the SA website within 24 hours of every senate meeting. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?The Student Association should publish and periodically update a guide to university services. Additionally, the SA should hold live-chat office hours where students can anonymously seek help for specific issues and be directed to the university service that fits their needs. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?College affordability is a very important issue. I feel extremely fortunate for all of the blessings I have received in my life, and I think that it's unfair that everyone doesn't get to have the same opportunities that I've had. Unfortunately, we seem to be living in a Tale of Two GWs. On one hand, many students have great sums of disposable income, are able to take advantage of all of the opportunities that the school and the city have to offer, and not once have to worry about how they'll pay their tuition, pay for food, pay for student health, pay for printing, pay for supplies, etc... On the other hand, there are many lower-income students who don't get to take advantage of everything the school has to offer because of prohibitive prices, and who struggle to afford tuition as it is, let alone all of the extra fees the school adds on for printing, textbooks, food, and other necessities. Sadly, the administration seems to frequently forget about students who don't come from elite backgrounds. I know that I personally can not stand to sit idly by as an entire group of students is forgotten by bureaucrats. If elected, I will start by pushing simple initiatives in affordability, such as 500 pages of free printing per semester, which comparable (and cheaper) schools already offer, and a Student Activities Fund to make events and #OnlyatGW experiences more accessible to lower class students. This whole semester, we heard students complain about the distance of student health services, but not once did anyone mention the price. I will pressure student health and launch a campaign to compel it to accept health insurance plans so that getting sick doesn't break the bank. Overall, there is so much more that the administration could be doing to make a GW education more accessible and affordable, so now the onus is on the students to raise awareness about the issue and put pressure on the university. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?All of my proposed initiatives to level the financial playing field here at GW, as detailed in the answer to the next question, can be fully paid for without raising tuition costs. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?If elected, I will start by pushing simple initiatives in affordability, such as 500 pages of free printing per semester, which comparable (and cheaper) schools already offer, and a Student Activities Fund to make events and #OnlyatGW experiences more accessible to lower class students. This whole semester, we heard students complain about the distance of student health services, but not once did anyone mention the price. I will pressure student health and launch a campaign to compel it to accept health insurance plans so that getting sick doesn't break the bank. Overall, there is so much more that the administration could be doing to make a GW education more accessible and affordable, so now the onus is on the students to raise awareness about the issue and put pressure on the university. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?The new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus further reduces the affordability of a GW education. The fact that the university is implementing this policy with the current expensive array of housing options is outrageous. I believe that increasing transparency in the GW housing budget will drive down housing costs, as this will ensure that the university isn't profiting off of students. Secondly, while house staff are a great resource, upperclassmen dorms shouldn't have as many house staff as freshmen and sophomore dorms. This change could help lower housing costs while preserving the amenities of GW dorms that we've come to expect. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?Each proposed budget should be open to a public comment period, administrators should hold office hours and town halls to answer questions and concerns about the budget.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?I wholeheartedly support GW Not For Profit's proposal for student non-voting representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees. It's extremely important that the board receive first hand information, instead of solely receiving report after report from bureaucrats. Students can remind the board of the importance of improving financial equity at our school, and ending the Tale of Two GWs. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?If I have the honor to serve in the SA Senate, I will be beholden to my constituents. I will continue to actively use my Facebook page to update students and organizations on the work that I will be doing in the Senate, and I will meet with any organization that's willing to speak with me and has an issue that the SA can help with. Ultimately, this is all about creating a better, stronger and fairer GW.

Jacob Burman

Background:First of all, hello! I am a freshman political science major with a focus in public policy and minor in economics and sustainability and I am from Los Angeles. I am a member of GW Debate, GW College Democrats, and the GW Roosevelt Institute. In terms of my leadership/policy experience, in high school I was class president all four years and participated in Model United Nations, and have also interned in the LA City Council, US Senate, and US House of Representatives.

Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?Of course! I think it is imperative that the university is more transparent especially towards its primary constituents who are most affected by university decisions: the students. I believe the Student Association can invite administrators to give reports to the SA during their meetings as well as calling for student oversight for these decisions, whether that be allowing the SA as a collective to have a vote on university decisions or allowing a student representative to voice the views and concerns for the student body when the university is making decisions. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?One of the main tenants of my platform is bringing more transparency to the SA, especially considering this is one of the easiest things we can do. If you look to the SA's website, minutes have not been posted since their first meeting last semester. Not only is that ridiculous, but students and members of the GW community should not have to go out of their way to follow what the SA has been doing. I believe that creating a social media outreach that includes updates on SA actions and proposals would be a great first step. I believe that overall by having a more transparent SA, we will not only get more accountability, but in general develop more interest in seeing what the SA is working on. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?I would work to increase awareness through calling for email blasts, events (with free food to attract people) to highlight these underutilized programs, and engage in social media to make people aware of these services. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?Definitely. As a student relying on financial aid to afford GW, it is imperative that we work to make this school as accessible to students regardless of their family income. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?I think we definitely need to have a balance. We need to ensure our students have a great experience but we need to make sure a wide range of people can share in that experience, for this diversity further enriches it. As such, calling for administration to have more student input in university policies and running their proposals through the SA to create a student-body dialogue would be an important step to strike this balance. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?Of course this would be difficult considering the university policies already in place, however I would advocate for the university to meet needed financial aid, and when considering merit-based financial aid to look past the numbers and understand students' situations when considering financial aid requests. Further, I would specifically be open to hearing individuals issues with the current process to bring these problems to the attention of the SA and the university administration. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I think it is unfortunate that this policy was put in place, especially considering the price of housing and how it adds up through our time here. One thought on this matter would be to call for higher levels of financial aid to subsidize the high prices for those who need the support. However. rather than relying purely on my limited experience, being a freshman, I am of course looking to hear from others with varying views and ideas on this issue to ensure that I would be able to best represent the Columbian College. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?By using my position to highlight the importance of cooperation between the university administration and students in order to ensure sound policy that can be good for the university while still being good for students.Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?Yes, and by calling for the Board to send representatives to update the SA and the student body on their actions would be a great way to develop open communication. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?I will be open-minded when listening to and talking with fellow students to ensure I can represent with the greatest level of efficiency and be sure to timely respond to any messages, emails, or questions made to me. Thanks for your time and consideration!

Thomas Falcigno

Background:My name is Thomas Falcigno and I am enrolled in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Political Science and History. I grew up in Orange, Connecticut and have one younger sister named Olivia. Some personal hobbies are I really enjoy collecting newspapers and love playing tennis. I also, as many at GW do, enjoy politics and public service. I hope to have a career in government affairs, whether it be working for a firm or in the government itself. I also plan on attending law where I would like to study constitutional law.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?The University must work to make transparency a number one goal. The students have right to know what is in GW's budget, operations, and planning processes. This is not just a right that I believe should exist, rather it is a right that is specifically spelled out in the Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. One of the ways the SA can achieve this is by working to place more students in communication with top school officials. For example, as a Legislative Aide to the Student Association Senate, I worked on a committee that sought to decide whether a student should have a place on the Board of Trustees. I support this initiative because we need more students involved in the governing process of the University, as I believe students offer a unique perspective on University matters. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?The Student Association has been lacking in transparency. It is time that minutes become published and legislation be posted, so all GW students can be informed on Student Association proceedings. As Student Association Senate Secretary, I have already put these plans into action. I would also advocate for publically releasing financial records and informing student organizations of current budget levels. This would not only help the students, it would also allow the Student Association to run more smoothly. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?The best way to increase the awareness of University services are through specialized student directories. At GW, the bureaucracy is very large and many students are often confused on where to go for specific issues. The SA needs to make public these service and work to provide directions in where to go for certain issues. This can be done via directories that can be given to students with information on services offered by the University. The SA must be an integral part of the creation of this Student Service directory. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?If I have the honor of serving as Senator for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, I hope to create a better line of communication and relationship between the Student Association and GW administrators. It is important to recognize that the work the SA does pertaining to student initiatives is non-binding meaning the University is not compelled to act upon SA sponsored legislation. As an SA Senator, I would reach out to GW administrators and create relationships with them in order to push harder for student sponsored initiatives and goals. For example, I have already reached out to newly appointed Director of GW’s Sustainability Initiative, Kathleen Merrigan, in hopes to meet with her to discuss creating more water bottle refill stations and working to improve GW’s recycling effort. It is important that in our discussions we talk about pricing and how it will effect costs. We need to make sure we know the implications of our actions and then must work to find another way to pay for whatever we propose. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?I would look at advocating for lowering prices in housing and dining. We need to increase the amount of dining dollars students receive. According to my calculations, students receive $16 a day for food, however, when a sandwich and a drink costs $11, there is not enough money for the rest of the day. This is wrong and it is important for GW to increase funding for dining. In housing, there are many places where we can cut costs and we must work with the University in order to make that happen. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?I would look at advocating for lowering prices in housing and dining. We need to increase the amount of dining dollars students receive. According to my calculations, students receive $16 a day for food, however, when a sandwich and a drink costs $11, there is not enough money for the rest of the day. This is wrong and it is important for GW to increase funding for dining. In housing, there are many places where we can cut costs and we must work with the University in order to make that happen. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I disagree with this new policy. There is a serious housing crunch on campus and the implementations of this policy came at the wring time. I would work with the administration to remove unnecessary fees and work to make sure that junior housing prices remain lower. Some cannot afford three years of on campus housing an it is not fair to force them into it. I would work with the University to look at ways to defray housing costs especially for juniors. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?I believe that this stems from understanding. Students do not understand how the University budgets work or how strategic planning is implemented. I would work to educate students in how University budget matters are decided. This understanding would lead to an increase in interest in these issues, which can make initiatives the SA works on more effective.Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?I do support this effort, in fact I have already worked to do this as a Legislative Aide in for the Senate. We need to have student representation where can get them, and the Board of Trustees is a perfect place to do this. Students offer unique perspectives on issues that the Board of Trustees can really benefit from hearing. I also believe that the Board can take a more active role in telling us how they operate. As a SA Senator I would call on the Board of Trustees to make their meetings open. Students have the right to know what they discuss and how they feel about certain issues. We need more student involvement at the Board level. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?As SA Senator, I would hold office hours in the SA office at least once a week. Senators need to be accessible to their constituents and right now they are not. In addition, I would work to meet on a regular basis with organizations and other groups on campus to find out how the SA can better serve them. What do they need from the University? The SA has lost sight of this concept, and I would would to bring these ideas back to the Senate.

Griffin Goetzmann

Background:I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas by my parents who are both attorneys. The types of law they practice focus on social and civil justice and because of that they have instilled in me a strong sense of right and wrong and a passion for reform. And boy does GW need a reformer.

Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?I think the university should be transparent in its budget, operations and, strategic planning because after trusting in their honesty and being let down, oversight has proven to be necessary. Through the SA we can advocate and demand for greater transparency by building support among the student body and donors. This can be achieved by passing referendums and legislations forcing more openness and honesty. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?The SA should be 100% transparent. Agendas, funding information, and committee reports should all be accessible to the wider student body. The SA is here to serve students, we must be able to be held accountable to our constituents. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?GW offers many great service but many are unaware of them. These programs need to be advertised and incentivized further in order to be fully utilized. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?The affordability of GW is a huge issue to me. More specifically honesty about affordability and use of funds are important. Acquiring new property and building new buildings at the expense of students' wallets is wholly inappropriate. Living costs on campus are forcibly and knowingly driven up by the university and while other universities of similar cost do not charge students for laundry services or food by the pound. These things must change in order for GW to be once again seen as an educational institution as opposed to money making conglomerate. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?This is a tough question. However, these costs could be covered instead by the money spent on real estate initiatives and other non-education related ventures. Students should not be forced to cover services that should already be covered. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?I would advocate lowering costs of attendance by building consensus amongst the student body by conducting and releasing research that compares GW to other similar priced universities and compared to living costs in the district-- definitively proving that GW's policies are geared towards making money. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I think that requiring Juniors to live in sub-par over priced housing is wrong. Generally, I will advocate for lowering rates for all students and if possible reverse the requirement for the class of 2018. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?I will advocate for increased engagement related to budgets and strategic planning by introducing referendums declaring our rights to know and have a level of control as to where our tuition goes.Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?Yes, 150%. I was surprised when coming here there wasn't already a student representative. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?In order to better listen to organizations and students alike, I plan on holding small forums and standing E-Board meetings of different organizations to hear out their concerns and ideas.

Sean Kumnick

Background:My name is Sean Kumnick and I am running for Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Senator. I'm currently majoring in Economics and Political Science. Raised in a middle-class household in northern Connecticut, I've been working since age 15 in every job from lifeguard to camp counselor to intern to unpaid intern to sales associate and more. My variety of experiences have helped me to broaden my worldview and skills. I have always considered Character, Integrity and Accountability to be the key traits of true leaders.

Many GW students run for elected office to grow their resume: I'm running for Senate to grow our University's opportunities for students and our sense of school pride. Elected office shouldn't be about building your name on other people's backs: It's about raising everyone up. I want to #RaiseHigher.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?Pressuring University Administration to be more involved with students is key: The President, the Provost and the Dean of Students have enough of a visible presence on campus (and on Twitter), but students don't feel as if these individuals are approachable enough to address their concerns. It is the role of the Student Association to advocate for the interests of students. This year we're making great strides with talk about Student Representation on the Board of Trustees, but there is still a long way to go. We need more open office hours and more transparency from administrators. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?Accountability is the key in my dream for next year: My Facebook page along with other parts of the campaign will remain published in order to give you a view into the Senate. Additionally, I plan on holding weekly town halls for Student Organizations, concerned students, and students looking to contribute their ideas to the growth of our university. I want to be your mouthpiece for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences and for the greater GW community. The Student Association exists for Student Advocacy. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?We need to revamp our SA website and make it a better resource for students that highlights all of the opportunities available to them. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?As a student who pays half of my estimated cost of attendance due to loans, scholarships and alumni grants; I believe that making GW affordable opens up opportunities for smart and motivated individuals to flock to our university. Initially, the 60,000 price tag for room and board scared both myself and my parents away from GW. Although I realize that there are necessary operating costs, GW has inflated their costs greatly. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?The SA hasn't been an organization that stand for students in the past: It has been an organization that acts as a feeder system for future GW Bureaucrats. I want the SA to be about putting students interests first: We shouldn't have to pay a student fee increase in order to increase our puny SA budget. If the University can spend 75 million on a building (School of Public Health) that they've raised 3 million dollars for, then they can increase the budget for student organizations. We need better fixit service, to kick out Sodexo for future students, decrease housing costs and promote more campus health programs/counseling. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?We're always building the newest and shiniest buildings, but we aren't always putting students first. Let's start by slashing positions at the university. There are too many people that work in Rice Hall and other areas of GW Bureaucracy that are not needed. Students shouldn't have to pay more than they are currently paying. Let's start cutting the fat away from administration and not from students. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?This policy should be repealed. It is another excuse for GW to exploit students and give them poor living conditions. Rates for Juniors should be heavily reduced. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?With an SA budget of 1.1 million this year, which will be bumped up slowly over the next year several years, GW still has a very small budget for student activities for a University of our size and age. Additionally, we had to undergo a fee increase for future students. I'm willing to work with the University and with our Board of Trustees to negotiate for more funding for our very active student body in a way that doesn't break your bank. Students are paying a great deal of money for a very small budget for student activities: Let's tell GW Administration that alumni give because of the memories they have from Student Association Organizations. Investing in Student Organizations is an investment in GW's future.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?Yes. Students are the reason this university exists: We should have a larger say in the future of GW. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?Town Halls, Facebook, Twitter and an active google doc for questions will be the best way to listen to students and their needs.

Jesse Lederman

Background:My name is Jesse Lederman, I'm a Freshman from Springfield, Massachusetts. I am running for the Student Association Senate from the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Currently, I am one of three Freshman Senators in the SA, as well as the Executive Chair of the Somers Hall RHA, and the Chair of the RHA Health and Safety Committee.

Outside of my academic life I am an organizer and activist, with experience in social justice, environmental, and progressive political organizing.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?I agree that the University Administration should be more transparent in their activities, including their budget, operations, and strategic planning.

The Student Association is unique in that it is chartered and funded through the Board of Trustees, and is therefore independent of the Administration. This puts the SA in the position to advocate for students concerns including those mentioned above in their own right. In regards to these issues, the SA can serve as a rallying point for students who wish to see these policies evolve, can present students voices through ballot initiatives and online campaigns.

At the internal level, Senators and the Executive can lobby administrators on these issues, as well as pass Senate resolutions to show their support for changes in policy. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?One of my key platform points is Student Association accessibility and accountability. I believe that the SA website should include Senate agendas prior to meetings, and Senate minutes after meetings. I also believe that Financial Records should be available either online or by request online. This has been reflected in my platforms documents since my announcement.

If elected I will introduce changes to Senate bylaws to require our agendas and meeting notes to be posted publicly online within a certain time frame before and after each meeting and will advocate for more information to be posted online. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?I believe that this issue ties back to the accessibility of the Student Association. I think that the SA website can serve as a directory for students to access university services. Some aspects of this idea already exist on the website, such as the ability to book student space online, but can be expanded upon.

I also believe that weekly email newsletters would be effective in communicating to students important and pertinent information, and will lobby the Executive to institute that practice if elected. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?College affordability is important to me. In the wake of GW’s admissions scandal in November, I asked Associate Provost for Enrollment Management Laurie Koehler what GW needed to do to move towards a need blind admissions policy. She told me we needed to substantially grow the endowment fund. I believe we can take steps towards growing the endowment fund and make the statement that GW is a place for every student of merit, no matter their financial background.

This is a huge goal, and certainly not one that can be accomplished during the span of one Senate term or even four years at GW. But the sooner we begin working on these issues, the closer we are to solving them. Few Universities are truly need-blind, but I believe that one day GW can be one of them.

If elected I will begin conversations with the administration regarding this issue, and it will be a key part of my work in the Senate. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?I am proud to have a platform that is realistic and keeps in mind the costs associated with my goals.

My platform goals are cost neutral, but set in motion the possibility of saving money in the future, and getting our moneys worth now.

My goal to add a Georgetown stop on the Vern Express takes into mind that the current route runs parallel to Georgetown, my position regarding the meal plan is to put together a working committee to study best practices at other universities and assemble a proposal to the administration to make the meal plan more beneficial to students, as well as to address next steps when our food service provider's contract ends. My aforementioned plans to lobby for endowment increases involve working with the administration to identify new revenue sources.

That being said, I am not opposed to instituting policies which cost money, as long as they are responsible and reasonable. I also believe that money can be saved in other areas of the University, and support efforts to identify those areas. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?I believe that knowledge and data are power. I want to work with the administration, the Senate, and the SA Executive to identify areas where money can be saved and costs can be lowered. I won't make promises I can't keep, but I understand the issue of GW's cost of attendance and it will be a priority during my Senate term. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I do not support the University's new requirement requiring Juniors to live on campus starting with the Class of 2018. I believe that if this policy is to continue, the University must improve its housing stock, services, and cost. I also understand the cost associated with that. That being said, if elected I will continue the lobby the administration and the Board of Trustees as the SA has this year in regards to lowering housing cost for students. This years actions resulted in slightly lower rates for some housing options, but I believe there is more work to be done. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?I support the campaign by the Student Association to add a student member to the Board of Trustees. I believe that this representative will give students a greater voice in the budgeting and strategic planning of GW.

Additionally, in my experience in the SA Senate, I have found that as a Senator, thought a seat at the table is often not offered, when you ask for a seat at the table, the administration is likely to give you one. I myself will ask for this seat in regards to important budget decisions and will encourage my fellow Senators to do the same.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?Yes. Please refer to my answer above. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?Each Senator in the SA is assigned a group of student organizations for which they are a liaison to. That is not a relationship that I will take for granted. For those organizations and for every organization and student I will always be available by e-mail, phone, social media, or for a meeting.

I believe that the greatest responsibility of a Senator is to be accessible and accountable to their constituents. To the best of my ability I have operated in this manner as a Freshman Senator, and will continue to make myself available to all students if re-elected.

Damonta Morgan

Background:A native of Clarksdale, MS, Damonta Morgan lives the American success story: with personal perseverance and toil, anyone can rise up from even the lowest of lows to accomplish astounding success! Viewing education as the only way one can move up the metaphorical ladder of success, Damonta migrated from Clarksdale High School, a school on the brink of failing, to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, a residential high school for academically gifted juniors and seniors and one of the top 400 high schools in the United States. Desiring to make a change in the world and to fulfill his purpose, Damonta has a fond interest in Education Reform, Politics, American Government, and Legal Studies, someday hoping to be a lawyer.

As a Gates Millennium Scholar, and a Horatio Alger National Scholar, Damonta now attends The George Washington University where he is a candidate for a Bachelor's degree in the arts in Political Science with a Public Policy focus and a minor in History.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?I will wholeheartedly support any actions that are taken to ensure that the University is more transparent with the students regarding not only the budget, but any other policies that the University utilizes. The administration is merely a representative entity of what the students want/need, and without student input or opinion, they can't portray an accurate representation. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?The SA can work to ensure that administrative townhalls are publicized so that students will know that they exist, and will seek to attend them. I think the administration is more responsible when they actually get the chance to speak with the students and receive input from the students directly. I think that the Senate Secretary and staff should also do a better job of making the senate notes and agenda public; this can be down easily by uploading the minutes within a week of the previous senate session, that way, the notes are accessible before the next session convenes. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?Besides the emails that the SA President and EVP send out, I will work to make sure that those services are publicized through flyers and conversation. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?College affordability is an issue that is particularly close to my heart because had it not been for gracious scholarship donors, I would not be able to go to college. Therefore, I think that GWs Cost of Attendance should remain as low as economically possible so that other students who cannot afford to pay for college will not have to worry as much. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?Through my administrative connections, I have to ability to bargain with the administration to advocate on the behalf of the students so that a student voice is heard in all of the prominent decision making. I think that one of the things that GW can do to ensure that the cost of attendance remains as low as possible, is to put the money that is being used on unnecessary construction towards things that students actually need such as those things listed above. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?I think the best way to show the administration that students really care about something is through referendums. Therefore, I think it is necessary that the student association performs a referendum on college affordability to show the administration how the students actually feel about the issue. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I think Juniors, in no class, should HAVE to live on campus.The older you get, the more freedom you should have to be able to make your own personal decisions regarding where you wish to live. If it is the will of my constituency, I will put in place procedures where the cost of living on campus, during Junior year specifically, is equal to or lower than that of living off campus. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?I think first there must be a relationship between the administration and the students. When the student leaders start acting like mediators in a way that the administration respects the opinion of the student, then will the administration be more open to listening to the views of the students.Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?As Legislative Aide for Transparency and Financial Services for the Student Association, I served on the Student Representation committee that drafted legislation to put students onto the Board of Trustees. Therefore, I fully support GW Not for Profit's proposal to implement such actions. I think student input is needed at that level. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?I will use my website as a medium to convey and receive information about what the Student Association is doing, and also receive comments through what I would refer to as a "virtual suggestion box" on my website.

Laura Roman

Background:I am from Great Falls, Virginia. I have lived outside of DC all my life. I am very involved on campus through many different fields. I am on the club women's basketball team. I am a member of the SA's Freshman Advisory Council. I am a sister if the Alpha Delta Pi. I was an Executive Chair of Hensley Hall during my first semester. I am very committed, and strive to give everything my full attention and effort. I refuse to give up on my beliefs.

Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?One key thing that the SA should do to advocate more transparency of the university is to have more administrative office hours. We need to make administrators more accessible. I propose to create more liaisons between students, administrators, departments, and depratment heads. Gelman library has executed this idea very well by creating a twitter account. Simple things like twitter accounts make it very easy for students to stay connected since a high population of students on campus are active on twitter. Just because everyone has an email does not mean that everyone checks their email. Twitter is an easier way to spread information faster. By creating administrative liaisons, through twitter, students will be more informed. Students will also have an easier platform to express their opinions. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?I do support the posting of meeting agendas and so on, on the SA website. This can even be taken a step further, and be put on twitter--as I previously mentioned. It's all about finding a way that students will want to be involved. If we can access a service that students are already involved in, the possibilities are endless. In order to effectively promote SA events and decisions, we must make it more accessible to students, beyond just posting on the SA website. Only students who are actively checking the SA website will be informed. The SA in total must be more accessible to students. I, as a freshman, have not heard of any town hall SA meetings or meetings people can sit in on. I think this is key to promoting the SA agenda. We need members of the SA to be more open with students. One way to do this is extended, and realistic office hours, where students can meet with individual officers, or the officers as a group. This will promote more student cooperation. By creating a system where students feel comfortable interacting with students, we will have a more open and productive university. Little changes like this will make a huge difference. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?This is easy, the answer is administrative liaisons. These liaisons will be from the student association and will work using platforms such as twitter, facebook, and Instagram. These are the three top social media outlets of our time period. It does not make sense to not use them effectively. Almost every student is involved with them. If we are able to better promote university accounts, we can access many more students. Students are not informed or involved now because the information is not traveling fluidly to them. Email is not as effective as it used to be. There are quicker, and easier ways through twitter to transmit information to a large student body. This is a solution is simple, but if executed correctly, is very effective. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?Yes I think it is. However I feel as though GW does an effective job of providing financial aid as needed. GW's tuition is very high comparative to other university's. This should be addressed in the SA more, as well as in an open dialogue with the student body. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?We need to create an open forum, whether it be online or in the form of a town hall meeting, to allow students to be more active in creating better student experience. My platform says that we as a school need to work together to make a better undergraduate experience. The SA must work hard, but only through the unwavering support of the student body. Creating ways for students to stay involved is vital to the effectiveness of the SA. Before we spend money, we must have student approval. The university must hear what the students have to say about these issues, before acting. I will advocate for what the students want. That way it is ensured that any costs that the university encounters for these initiatives, are supported by the students. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?Omitted. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I think this is unfair of the university to require students to stay on campus through junior year. Most students come to DC looking to start their professional lives here. This includes living in DC, and the sooner they can find permanent housing, the better off they will be. Regardless of that, many student studies have shown that living off campus is much more affordable than living on campus. Though living on campus provides house staff services, it adds extra unnecessary costs to upperclassmen who do not utilize the services of house staff. Therefore living on campus as an upperclassman, is not worth the cost. Getting rid of unnecessary housing costs will significantly reduce housing and will increase on campus living. Ridding the university of upperclassman house staffs may be the way to reduce the cost. Most juniors and seniors are 21 and over, and do not need the help of older students like a freshman or sophomore might. The way to solve this problem, is to reduce unnecessary costs of house staffs. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?Increased university engagements with students will become easier if there is more communications between students and the university. The students should be able to advocate for what they want, while SA members work to achieve that. Students should be able to submit proposals for payment plans for programming and projects the university works toward. This will allow for the students to make the decisions. Easy solutions such as surveys and google questionnaires will allow for students to be able to voice their opinions on budgetary needs. We, as a student body, must be the ones to make the decisions.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?Yes I do support GW Non Profits solution of adding non-voting representatives. This is a very good idea because it creates more transparency between the students and administrators. There can never be enough transparency. More town hall meetings and expanded office hours will allow students to access to board decisions, while increasing communications between the university and it's students. This is a very important issue. Transparency is what will create a better undergraduate experience. My answer is simple. We need more office hours for administrators. This means more office hours that's are realistic for students to attend. More office hours for President Knapp. Only a select few students right now are able to talk with him. We need to create liaisons between students and departments and administrators to make communications more accessible. We can do this through social media. These are two simple options that will reach more students and create a more fluid communication system. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?I plan to hold more open office hours in order to create more fluid communications. I live in Thurston. Since it is one of the biggest freshman dorms I am planning to hold office hours on the first floor where students can easily come and express their concerns. Along with this I plan to be in the Marvin center often to provide the same services. I just want to be accessible to students. I have campaign twitter and facebook accounts that can easily be transformed into SA officer pages where students can quickly and easily contact me. I plan to be available in every way I can be. I want for students to feel comfortable approaching me. And the only way I see for this to happen is to make myself available, and committed to students.

Casey Syron

Background:Hi, my name is Casey Syron and I'm a sophomore majoring in Political Science and Economics from Bartlett, Illinois. I enjoy long bike rides through Rock Creek Park and I am currently trying to learn to break dance.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?Yes. The Bureaucracy is the primary method through which GW is able to hide many financial statements which students and employees may find unbearable. The SA should lobby the Board and administrators to create a blue-print, in Layman's Terms, which outlines the vast GW Bureaucracy and each respective office's budget and expenditures. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?Every action the Student Association takes, whether it be the executive, legislative, or judicial branch, should be published and made available to the public in order to ensure transparency in student government. Realistically speaking, who will actually spend their free-time combing through the monotony known as the GW Student Association? That being said, student government has a responsibility to ensure transparency for their constituents, regardless. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?Create one central search engine on GW's website which students would utilize in order to find out everything and anything that the university may offer. Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?Yes. I work two jobs in order to pay for my own tuition. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?When there is a problem, I will work to fix it. I am not going to guarantee promises to the voter which I cannot keep. Vote for me and I promise that I will be there to fix any problem which may come up. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?Tuition and Fees: Decrease the amount of administrators within the GW bureaucracy. There is an employee within our university whose job it is approve or deny student orgs' T-Shirt designs based on if they fall within the "Approved Guidelines" of fonts and shirt colors. That is unnecessary.

Housing: Create a fixed price per square foot which would apply to all residence halls. Multiply that cost by the actual square feet of a room. Divide by number of residents in per room. Simple as that.

Dining: Do not renew Sodexo's contract for J-Street. Make those positions part-time jobs which would be exclusively available to students. The price of labor will dramatically decrease which in turn will decrease the price of food, hopefully increasing use of J-Street.

Printing: Put a minimum of one printer in every residence hall and every academic building. The company that supplies the printers does not charge GW for the kiosk or instillation. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?As long as GW housing rates remain above fair market value, it is aggressive and unjustifiable for a university to profit from its students' living costs. As for the cost of housing, create a new formula for the cost of housing which is not based off of the amount of people per room:1) Create a fixed price per square foot which applies equally to every residence hall, at a fair market value.2) Multiply the price per square foot by the square feet of each room, and divide that product by the number of students per room. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?Create an initiative and drum up substantial student support, much like the student space or student health center initiatives, and have students sign a petition which states the following and deliver said petition to the administration, the board, and external media.

"I pay $_____.__ to go to this university and I demand to know where my money is going."

The university takes very seriously initiatives with substantial student support.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?No. There should be 2 voting students on the Board of Trustees, one graduate and one undergraduate, who are required to produce reports and share them with the student body. How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?One of the largest problems with the SA Senate right now is that the students do not know who their representatives are. The SA needs to increase its already large social media presence so students will know who their elected representatives are.

Lee Winkler

Background:I have lived in the Netherlands, New Orleans and Houston before coming to GW. I speak three languages, English, Spanish and Dutch. I am a political science and philosophy major. I also play on the GW rugby team and intern at Ready For Hillary. I am fairly extroverted, but do enjoy quiet time to myself so that I can contemplate the world around me or read. I want to attend law school after I graduate from GW.Do you think the university should be more transparent in its budget, operations, and strategic planning processes?The university should most definitely be more transparent in its income and budget. As of now, many students are highly suspicious of the university being a money-grubbing institution who's sole concern is to make a larger profit. I personally would love to see how the university spends its money, especially the massive income that the university receives in rent. With tuition already so high, it seems strange that the university feels so penny pinching and it would help the student body understand the university's decision making if they could see its budget. Similarly, what can be done to ensure more transparency within the Student Association?I support Student Association transparency. The elected members of the student body's duty is to serve their electorate, and it is only just that the student body is able to view how their elected officials are allocating funds and how they are voting on issues. It is important for the student body to be able to keep the student association in check by having full access to their going on's, much like Americans have full access to most Congressional hearings/meetings. How would you work to increase student awareness of existing university services that many are often not aware of?Through accessible promotion of current services. As of now many are let known of services through impersonal, annoying GW email blasts. The email blasts are too frequently sent and generally frivolous. If the title of the email was simply changed from something such as "Freshman Daily 10" to something that gives a hint to what the message is about such as "10 easy tips to lost weight" instead, it would much more effectively promote university services. The current system of promotion is flawed because its impersonal, indirect and is over-saturated Is the affordability of a GW education an important issue to you? Why?I believe that GW's goal should be to give the cheapest education it can while maintaining high educational and facility standards. I am on full financial aid at GW and think that no student should have to worry about affording an education at GWU. I am lucky that I have received so much money, but understand some who have financial struggles attending GW. A university that has such a large income should be able to financially ensure that anyone could attend GW. How will you advocate for increased university attention to student needs (whether related to academics, housing, health, student organizations, campus life, etc) while keeping in mind that increased spending on such initiatives could lead to higher costs of attendance for future students?By forcing more interactions between the student body and President Knapp and the rest of the administration (Provost, Treasurer etc.) it will create more of a bond between an isolated administration and annoyed student body. This will create a more open forum between the administration and hopefully alleviate any tension. Students will feel more free to voice their opinions and fix problems more effectively. By reviewing GW's budget, the administration can maximize the Board of Trustee's and the students satisfaction with how money is spent, and so an optimal point can be found to help student orgs/health/greek life etc. and achieve what the university wants. What are ways you would advocate for lower costs of attendance at GW (such as tuition and fees, housing, dining, charges for services, printing, SA fees, etc)?I plan on talking with the University Dining Services and Marvin Center Commission on switching J-Street to a swipe system, where students can get as much food as they want for one price. The current weight system is GW's and not our dining provider's. As far as housing, I will try to talk with GW's housing services and Board of Trustees, citing the absurd housing costs in comparison to other city schools such as in New York. As far as printing I will talk with Academic Technology services so that we can use recycled paper and figure out a budget plan to receive free or reduced printing. The numbers do not add up, and I will make that evident to GW and actively confront them about these heinous policies. What are your thoughts on the new requirement that Juniors in the Class of 2018 and onward live on campus? How will you advocate for inexpensive housing alternatives to defray the impact of this policy?I think forcing students to defy the forces of the market for more expensive housing is unfair. The university should be forced to offer comparably fair housing costs for the area. By forcing the university to offer competitive market prices for housing per square foot per person, rather than the currently set number that is higher than most of the surrounding area, it will save students money. This could also make it more attractive for students to stay on campus all 4 years, possibly making the university more money by filling more rooms, but less per person. How will you advocate for increased university engagement with students related to budgets and strategic planning?GW needs to have a full disclosure of its budget and income (endowments,rent,tuition etc.) if not to the full student body to at least the Student Association. This allows students to better understand why and how GW spends its money, so that students can be fairly critical and hopefully then influential in the school's financial planning. By having open financial discussions between the Student Association, Board of Trustees, and GW's Treasurer, funds can be better distributed. The SA and University's top dogs can work together and build a better school for all. But this can only be achieved through financial disclosure.

Do you supportGW Not For Profit’s proposalfor non-voting student representatives on the financial committees of the Board of Trustees?I do. The Board needs to meet with students openly. The Board of Trustees is too inaccessible at this time, preventing any communication of note. The Board needs to trust that student's have good ideas (and perhaps are smarter than them). How will you, in the position you are seeking on the SA, personally listen to the needs of students and their organizations?Honestly, by responding to any email sent my way and asking students how the school could be improved. I seek out issues, because I want to solve every problem: preferably now. I will release any information regarding my voting record/bills at a pen drops notice, if asked for them. I want to be on SA, not to build my resume, but because I generally want to fix every problem that any student has at GW. I am a sucker for playing the hero.